I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a space usable, probably because I’m hoping to have space of my very own soon and I want to include a crafting room. Right now, my craft “zone” is functional, but kind of lackluster. Tucked between the kitchen table and the living room, it does have everything I need. I have all my tools at hand and neatly organized, music (in the form of the laptop and speakers), tv, and the table for extra work space.
My favorite color is blue, in case you didn’t know, but I chose to do this area in green. Green combines cool and balanced blue with energetic yellow, so I think of it as creative color. But beyond color coordination and organization, it’s not very inspiring. I decorate my desktop at work with more care.
I stuck with green here too and included plenty of potted plants for life. Computer programming is actually a quite creative process, so I do my best to foster that by keeping inspiration close at hand, in the form of pictures and posters of the outdoors (I work at a Natural Heritage program).
So I’m thinking my new craft area should be more than just functional (and green). Perhaps a cork board for pinning up random yarn samples that I have stashed away, or clear/open storage for my colored rovings. Seeing and handling the fiber is usually what inspires me, so I’m hoping that by having it out, I’ll want to work on it more.
Any thoughts from the audience? What does your craft/work zone look like? Do you include things to inspire you? What things? If you had a million dollars (which I don’t, but it’s pretend time), what would your ideal craft space look like? Marble floors and Corinthian columns? Rustic wood panelling and a rocking chair? Quilts? Plants? Fine art?
Cliff House Alpacas 
Right now I am confined to a corner of the bedroom for crafting, having lost both spare rooms to kids :). I dream of a “craft shed” space outdoors- Natural light and lots of shelves to keep all the supplies visible. Someday!
Ahh. Kids. I’m not there yet myself, but I could see how a spare bedroom would quickly become a kid’s room!
Natural light! Doh! That is a completely important element to crafting zone! I can’t believe I forgot that. Natural light is the reason I spend so much time in the living room, that’s for sure.
I like your crafting corner Kir. I have my own dreams for my craft room/office…. not there yet. I like rich purples like a thistle……Currently my room is devoid of any of that, and crafty stuff is relegated to the closet. But freakin awesome in the closet on the metro shelves.
It is pretty good, honestly. I just feel like it needs more things to remind me to actually craft. Your workspace is getting there, right? I’m guessing your crafting goes on in the spare bedroom/office where you do yoga? But you’re right, it doesn’t have any purple. That is a lovely color, also combines the warms and cools.
ooo maybe a roomba for your crafting room since you’ll have those nice hardwood floors. Then you won’t need a tarp on the floor and it would be hilarious to watch derbs with it.
Aaah haa haa! That would be awesome. He’s terrified of electric toothbrushes. Have you seen that video of the cat riding the roomba? It manages a hit and run swipe on the dog, by riding the roomba into the sunset.